GUELPH — She lived a modest life, a good life, a long life, but at 104 years old, Rita Porter has died.

Porter was the subject of a story written by local writer Dawn Matheson that carried in the Mercury in 2008, and which garnered considerable attention and feedback from readers.

It was the story of a woman who faced some difficult challenges growing up in Guelph — born in 1908, orphaned at age 18 and left to raise her younger siblings, widowed at a young age and left to raise her children — but without any tinge of self-pity.

“That’s what I liked about her,” Matheson said. “She was straight-up, no nonsense and no complaints kind of person. She had a difficult life — others would think it was an awful life — but she never saw it that way. She was so fresh that way.”

Her daughter Barbara Breese said Porter had a difficult time showing affection because of her background, “but she was so strong and so independent,” Breese said. “Just think, she went from horse-and-buggy days to being able to fly. We think she was rather amazing.”

Porter was the eldest of seven children and she helped raise them after her parents died in 1926. She married C. George Porter in 1928 and had three children, which she raised alone while her husband fought in the Second World War.

She worked as a pastry chef after his death and rented out rooms after her children moved away from home.

“She was always concerned about having enough money for her old age,” Breese said. “She always lived frugally.”

Breese said her mother celebrated her 100th birthday with a big party at the Elliott retirement home. She crocheted items herself to give to her guests as gifts. But after that she wasn’t interested in her birthdays, Breese said.

Her health failed enough that she moved to the long-term care wing of the facility where she could receive extra care, “but she was sharp and in pretty good health right till the end,” Breese said.

“She’ll leave a big hole in our lives, but you can’t be sad about reaching 104.”

Visitation is at the Gilbert Macintyre and Son Funeral Home, Dublin Chapel, on Jan. 10 from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. A vigil will be held at the funeral home on Jan. 10 at 3:30 p.m.

The funeral mass will be celebrated at the Church of Our Lady on Jan. 11 at 10 a.m.